What fun!
Today I may have corrupted a whole new generation of fiber addicts.
I live in a very Orthodox Jewish area, and someone found out that I spin, and I've been asked to demonstrate spinning to a number of the private Jewish schools in the area as a result. Today was the first. And boy was it a hoot!
The school I visited today goes up to 8th grade, but I only met with what they called Pre-1st. I guess thats something between Kindergarten and 1st grade, because there were also Kindergarten classes at the school. So, for about 2 hours I met with about 15 or so 5 and 6 year old boys and talked to them about carding fiber, spinning it, and even a little about weaving.
The reason they asked me to come is that now is the time in their curriculum that they are teaching the kids about the various rules/prohibited activities involved with Shabbos, which are called Melachot. So, you can't shear, clean, card, dye, spin, knit/crochet, weave, cut fabric, or sew. Obviously, I came to cover just part of that.
I borrowed some hand cards from one of the Baltimore Spinning Group members, packed up some fiber, my drop spindles, and Wendy the wheel (my Ashford Traveller), and off I went, not knowing what to expect. The wild part was that these BOYS were completely excited about what I was doing, and I had their attention the WHOLE time. They asked questions, lots of them, and smart too! The teachers were all the same way. And they all, and I mean all (they were coming from all parts of the school) wanted to try to spin with the drop spindles, and I even had everyone treadling the wheel. All of the boys admitted that it was difficult work and they didn't think they'd be able to do it, spinning with a drop spindle, or treadling the wheel while remembering to draft the fiber. I gave all the kids a bit of alpaca to take home with them, and they spent time trying to spin it between their fingers.
The head of the school was so impressed she even tried to pay me. The way I see it, it was just more time during the day that I got to spin. Pay me? No need. So they gave me a gift certificate, and asked when I was coming back.
Wild.
I live in a very Orthodox Jewish area, and someone found out that I spin, and I've been asked to demonstrate spinning to a number of the private Jewish schools in the area as a result. Today was the first. And boy was it a hoot!
The school I visited today goes up to 8th grade, but I only met with what they called Pre-1st. I guess thats something between Kindergarten and 1st grade, because there were also Kindergarten classes at the school. So, for about 2 hours I met with about 15 or so 5 and 6 year old boys and talked to them about carding fiber, spinning it, and even a little about weaving.
The reason they asked me to come is that now is the time in their curriculum that they are teaching the kids about the various rules/prohibited activities involved with Shabbos, which are called Melachot. So, you can't shear, clean, card, dye, spin, knit/crochet, weave, cut fabric, or sew. Obviously, I came to cover just part of that.
I borrowed some hand cards from one of the Baltimore Spinning Group members, packed up some fiber, my drop spindles, and Wendy the wheel (my Ashford Traveller), and off I went, not knowing what to expect. The wild part was that these BOYS were completely excited about what I was doing, and I had their attention the WHOLE time. They asked questions, lots of them, and smart too! The teachers were all the same way. And they all, and I mean all (they were coming from all parts of the school) wanted to try to spin with the drop spindles, and I even had everyone treadling the wheel. All of the boys admitted that it was difficult work and they didn't think they'd be able to do it, spinning with a drop spindle, or treadling the wheel while remembering to draft the fiber. I gave all the kids a bit of alpaca to take home with them, and they spent time trying to spin it between their fingers.
The head of the school was so impressed she even tried to pay me. The way I see it, it was just more time during the day that I got to spin. Pay me? No need. So they gave me a gift certificate, and asked when I was coming back.
Wild.
Wow!! That is really awesome! I am so glad that it all worked out so well... Whoo-Hoo!! Go, Sarah!!!
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I'm glad it turned out so well! Are you smitten with the cards yet? (bwahaha) Pre-1st is an innovation at private schools, where so many kids are being held back to be admitted at 6 that they feel a need to protect the youngest kindergarteners from being pushed beyond their maturity in first grade, while at the same time wanting to keep accepting them into K. I think I'm going to be the mom of a pre-1st-er.
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